What a mistake to suppose that the passions are strongest in youth! The passions are not stronger, but the control over them is weaker! They are more easily excited, they are more violent and apparent; but they have less energy, less durability, less intense and concentrated power than in maturer life.

Why should the soul ever repose? God, its Principle, reposes never.

The law is a gun, which if it misses a pigeon always kills a crow; if it does not strike the guilty, it hits someone else. As every crime creates a law, so in turn every law creates a crime.

The Italians have voices like peacocks - German gives me a cold in the head - and Russian is nothing but sneezing

Every man who observes vigilantly, and resolves steadfastly, grows unconsciously into genius.

The secret of fashion is to surprise and never to disappoint.

He who has loved often ... has loved never.